Eastern State Penitentiary

Philadelphia, PA

The Eastern State Penitentiary, also known as ESP, is a former American prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Operational from 1829 until 1971 it housed famous criminals such as Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton.  It is currently a U.S. National Historic Landmark.

Currently considered one of the most haunted places in the world you can explore for yourself in either a public or private investigation.  You may hear a disembodied voice, have your own name called, or suffer through the screams of tortured men that some hear while investigating.

June 27, 2009
Investigators: Beth Rosen & Matt Rosen.

Location Photos: Click to enlarge

  • Completed circa 1836, Eastern State Penitentiary was created under the Quaker notion of penance through total isolation and sensory deprivation. Although seemingly well-intentioned for its day, the silence and lack of social interaction drove inmates completely insane.
  • Note the’ghost cat’ sculptures at the roof’s edge, they were created by a local artist who cared for a feral colony at the prison.
  • Al Capone’s cell
  • Infamous Cell Block 4, the area where we’ve had the most activity.
  • Cell Block 12
  • Cell with the ‘eye of God’ at top, the only light source for older, original cells.

Findings:

Cell Block 12: One of our investigators finds a pair of shoes in a cell and ‘someone’ mistakes her for a shoe-shine girl. Worst of all, she didn’t even get a tip… ungrateful spirits!
Cell Block 4: With no females present at the time, the guys notice a sudden temperature drop—followed by this chilling female request.

May 28, 2010
Investigators: Beth Rosen & Matt Rosen with guests Christian Daly, Allen Todd.

Location Photos: (click to enlarge)

  • Shot looking down Cell Block 4, one of the most active areas of Eastern State Penitentiary.
  • Upstairs at Cell Block 12
  • The prison barbershop – shave and a haircut anyone?
  • Looking down death row, toward the back of the prison.
  • Death row – ‘Sorry Willie, the Governor hasn’t called yet. Let’s go you big bunch of puss.’ (Inside joke 🙂
  • ‘Ghost cat’ sculptures, they were created by a local artist who cared for a feral colony at the prison
  • One of our investigators, Christian, at the intake area. Please, someone – throw away the key already!

Findings:

Cell Block 4: After our investigator, Christian, asks if anyone present can repeat his knocks, he gets an EVP in return. Soon after, we hear a clear response to his ‘shave and a hair cut’ knock to our surprise.
Cell Block 4: Later in the night, loud bangs are heard coming from the second level where no one is allowed. A minute later, four of our investigators are shocked when they hear a disembodied voice directly behind them.

July 27, 2013
Investigators: Beth Rosen, Matt Rosen, Heather Olsen, Lisa Shirkey & Jonathan Andrews.

Location Photos:

  • Completed circa 1836, Eastern State Penitentiary was created under the Quaker notion of penance through total isolation and sensory deprivation. Although seemingly well-intentioned for its day, the silence and lack of social interaction drove inmates completely insane.
  • View from one of Eastern State’s inner yards with the inmate greenhouse to the right.
  • Daytime shot of Cell Block 7. If you think it’s creepy now, you should experience it at night.
  • The gate to Cell Block 3 and the penitentiary’s medical ward. It housed an operating room, a quarantine area and recovery wards, just to name a few.
  • We turned the corner and this detailed apparition appeared out of nowhere! Well, not really – it’s just an artist’s installation that’s part of the daytime tour. (Curses, foiled again!)
  • This is Eastern State’s most notorious inmate. On the ‘outside’ – she killed seven people just for snoring. Some know her as Psychopath Sally, but we know her as Heather Olsen, one of our trusted investigators.
  • Photo of one of the cell blocks with daytime tourists mulling about.
  • What would a trip to Philly be without a little sight-seeing? These are the steps made famous in the movie, Rocky – leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
  • Ladies and gentlemen, here’s the statue of the legend himself – Rocky Balboa – with the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the background.
  • If you go to Philly, you MUST visit the MĂĽtter Museum. It houses medical oddities like the most gangrene hand in the world, a massive 40-pound colon, and the most emotionally inmature group of people EVER! (Then again, that part of the museum left when we did.)

Findings: Nothing to report.

Grave Concerns Paranormal does not view findings presented on this page as evidence of ghosts or the paranormal. These are merely experiences that we can not explain at this time.